@@ -4184,32 +4184,36 @@ static int try_create_file(const char *path, unsigned int mode, const char *buf,
  * We optimistically assume that the directories exist,
  * which is true 99% of the time anyway. If they don't,
  * we create them and try again.
+ *
+ * Returns:
+ *   -1 on error
+ *   0 otherwise
  */
-static void create_one_file(struct apply_state *state,
-			    char *path,
-			    unsigned mode,
-			    const char *buf,
-			    unsigned long size)
+static int create_one_file(struct apply_state *state,
+			   char *path,
+			   unsigned mode,
+			   const char *buf,
+			   unsigned long size)
 {
 	int res;
 
 	if (state->cached)
-		return;
+		return 0;
 
 	res = try_create_file(path, mode, buf, size);
 	if (!res)
-		return;
+		return 0;
 	if (res < 0)
-		exit(1);
+		return -1;
 
 	if (errno == ENOENT) {
 		if (safe_create_leading_directories(path))
-			return;
+			return 0;
 		res = try_create_file(path, mode, buf, size);
 		if (!res)
-			return;
+			return 0;
 		if (res < 0)
-			exit(1);
+			return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (errno == EEXIST || errno == EACCES) {

@@ -4230,18 +4234,19 @@ static void create_one_file(struct apply_state *state,
 			res = try_create_file(newpath, mode, buf, size);
 			if (!res) {
 				if (!rename(newpath, path))
-					return;
+					return 0;
 				unlink_or_warn(newpath);
 				break;
 			}
 			if (res < 0)
-				exit(1);
+				return -1;
 			if (errno != EEXIST)
 				break;
 			++nr;
 		}
 	}
-	die_errno(_("unable to write file '%s' mode %o"), path, mode);
+	return error(_("unable to write file '%s' mode %o: %s"),
+		     path, mode, strerror(errno));
 }
 
 static int add_conflicted_stages_file(struct apply_state *state,

@@ -4284,7 +4289,8 @@ static int create_file(struct apply_state *state, struct patch *patch)
 
 	if (!mode)
 		mode = S_IFREG | 0644;
-	create_one_file(state, path, mode, buf, size);
+	if (create_one_file(state, path, mode, buf, size))
+		return -1;
 
 	if (patch->conflicted_threeway)
 		return add_conflicted_stages_file(state, patch);